COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M chancellor John Sharp feigned surprise when asked about the Aggies intending to own the largest stadium in the state and in the Southeastern Conference.

“It’s the largest? I didn’t know that,” a smiling Sharp said today. “That was the recommendation of the architect.”

“That” is 102,500, the intended capacity of Kyle Field when its redevelopment is finished in 2015. A&M regents today approved a $450 million renovation of the Aggies’ football home for more than a century, and construction will start in earnest immediately following the conclusion of A&M’s 2013 home slate (Nov. 9 against Mississippi State).

So was A&M trying to out-size former conference rival Texas, with Royal-Memorial Stadium currently seating 100,119?

The architect firm Populous vows it can have the project done in time for the 2015 season – even as A&M plays all of its home games at Kyle during the construction period. If not? Athletic director Eric Hyman said A&M will cross that bridge when the time comes.

Also, there are no plans for new parking at this point (even with 20,000 additional seats), but Hyman said that likely will be part of the plans once the renovation itself is completed. Based on the phasing of the construction, Hyman said Kyle Field might actually hold about 107,000-109,000 in 2014 before the intended capacity is reached the following season.

Added a proud Sharp, “This megaphone that we’re fixing to build is going to be the loudest on the planet.”